Posted on 02/10/2009 5:17:00 PM PST by WesternCulture
Background:
Volvo Cars (owned by Ford Motor Company) claims their all new Volvo XC 60 to be the world's safest car.
The consequence:
The Toyota people have worked themselves into a rage and now take legal actions.
(The following is a translation of a Swedish article. My English isn't perfect, but I hope what follows at least is comprehensible:)
"Toyota disapproves of Volvo's claims of the new XC60 to be the world's safest car.
Toyota now sues Volvo in the Swedish Market Court (Marknadsdomstolen).
In their application to the court, Toyota argues that there indeed are cars around the Globe safer than the model in question and that Volvo, probably, are unable of proving their statements to be correct. Therefore, the campaign isn't trustworthy, but dishonest and aiming to mislead the consumer.
The irritation at Toyota Sweden ought to be viewed in the light of Volvo recently having forced Toyota to back down from claiming their cars to be the "safest in Sweden". In a recent campaign Toyota stated this was the case, refering to a study made by Folksam, a leading Swedish insurance company. After protests coming from Volvo, the Toyota campaign was put to an end.
Bo Larsen, PR manager of Volvo Cars, says the company doesn't plan to alter the way in which they market their products. This is his comment on the actual lawsuit:
- Naturally, we have based our campaigns on how we view reality. I can't wait to see Toyota "produce" a car (in court) that is safer than ours.
Vehicle safety experience is also a function of the customer base. It’s possible that the average Volvo driver is better at achieving safety than the average Toyota driver.
The average Volvo driver is a “frightened squirrel” (term of art) who causes more accidents than she’s involved with.
At least, that’s my hypothesis.
More seriously, men don’t drive Volvos. Also men have more accidents than women (because they get the duty when everyone is tired, tipsy, or the weather stinks).
- Yes, but judging from what I know concerning the conditions over here in Scandinavia, I find it rather unlikely that Volvo drivers would outdo Toyota drivers in the area of safety.
Swedish Volvo drivers represent a mean of Swedish car owners.
Most are, hardly surprising, ordinary people who use their cars for driving to and from work, leaving their kids at a kindergarten/school in the morning, picking them up in the afternoon and then going shopping at IKEA:).
Many Volvo owners in my country are “squares”. Most Swedish Toyota drivers are too.
However, at least in Sweden there is somewhat of a difference between these two groups. Swedish Toyota drivers seldom are salesmen and other such (stressed up) people who usually drive along Swedish freeways at high speeds trying to make a living.
Most Swedish Toyotas are driven below speeds of 60 mph or so. Therefor, they get involved in few severe accidents.
Although I believe Toyotas to be fairly safe cars, I am very, very convinced SAABs, Audis, Mercedes’s, BMW's and Volvos to be safer vehicles.
:D
In my part of the world, we actually do for some reason!
Seriously, I hope we can agree buying our wifes/girlfriends/mothers/daughters a Volvo is an act of uttermost consideration and gallantry.
“Although I believe Toyotas to be fairly safe cars, I am very, very convinced SAABs, Audis, Mercedes’s, BMW’s and Volvos to be safer vehicles.”
That is true.
Seriously, I hope we can agree buying our wifes/girlfriends/mothers/daughters a Volvo is an act of uttermost consideration and gallantry
It is! And much appreciated!
(I LOVE my ‘98 A6!!)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.